Manual vibrato for stringed instruments

ABSTRACT

A MANUAL VIBRATO IS HEREIN DISCLOSED, COMPRISING A BAR WHICH IS POSITIONED BELOW OR ABOVE THE STRINGS OF THE INSTRUMENT AT THE NORMAL POSITION OF THE BRIDGE ON CONVENTIONAL INSTRUMENTS, WHEREBY ROTATING OR SLIDING OF THE BAR ALONG THE STRINGS CAUSES PITCH VARIATION.

NOV. 16, 1971 31", RU 3,620,l17

MANUAL VIBRATO FOR STRINGED LNS'lhUMHN'JJ;

Filed Nov. 3, 1969 WILLIAM T RUSCH A T TOR/V5 Y United States Patent US. Cl. 84-313 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A manual vibrato is herein disclosed, comprising a bar which is positioned below or above the strings of the instrument at the normal position of the bridge on conventional instruments, whereby rotating or sliding of the bar along the strings causes pitch variation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The prior art is replete with various means for producing vibrato on a stringed instrument such as guitar. In the conventional fretted or spanish guitar as special tail piece on the body of the guitar is usually provided with the strings attached to the special tail piece. The special tail piece generally has a lever attached thereto for changing the string tension thereby providing the desired vibrato. This type of vibrato requires a fair amount of force to actuate same due to tension in the strings. In addition, movement of the strings along the bridge causes excessive wear of the strings. This has been remedied to some extent by the use of a floating or other type of bridge which moves with string movement. However, this can be a rather expensive remedy for this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved manual vibrato for stringed instruments.

It is another object of this invention to change the pitch of a stringed instrument by rotating or sliding a steel bar along the strings near the body end of the stringed instrument.

Briefly, a manual vibrator is provided comprising a bar which is placed adjacent the strings, either below or above them, at the point on the stringed instrument where the bridge normally is and producing vibrato by either rotating or sliding the bar back and forth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention will become more apparent by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an embodiment of a sliding manual vibrato;

FIG. 2 is an embodiment of a rudimentary manual vibrato; and

FIGS. 3A and 3B are yet other embodiments of manual vibratos.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 illustrates a manual vibrato of the sliding type variety. This vibrato comprises a bar 38 having end pins 40 at each end thereof (only one end being shown). The end pins 40 are mounted within slots 42 within a plate 44.

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The end pins and, therefore, the bar 3 8 are biased by springs 46. A push bar 48 having a lever 50 is attached to a guitar body 52 by hinges 54. Depressing the lever 50 will cause the push bar 48 to slide the vibrato bar 3 8 against the tension of springs 46, and release of the lever will cause the vibrato bar 38 and push bar 48 to return to their unbiased position by the action of the springs 46. A slotted plate, like plate 44, is mounted at the other end of the vibrato bar 38 to accommodate the other end pin in like fashion to that illustrated.

In another embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, a vibrato bar' 56 positioned above strings 18 is actuated by the arm 58 of the player. The player vibrates his arm to produce pitch variation.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 3A and 3B the vibrato bar 60 is arranged above or below the strings 18. The vibrato is mounted to the body of the stringed instrument via springs 62. The springs are relatively loose. Pitch variation is produced by vibrating the stringed instrument itself whereby the bar 60 will move relative to the strings.

Other vibratos of different shapes may be employed in this invention by merely removing the conventional bridge or changing the location of the conventional bridge and replacing it by a vibrato according to the teachings of this invention. Thus, it is to be understood that the embodiment shown are illustrative only, and that many variations and modifications may be made Without departing from the principles of the invention herein disclosed and defined by the appended claim.

I claim: 1. A manual vibrato for a stringed instrument, comprising:

a vibrato bar having end pins; a pair of slotted plates attached to the stringed instrument for accommodating said end pins; a pair of springs coupled to said slotted plates for biasing said end pins, and means for causing said vibrato bar to slide including a push bar hinged to the stringed instrument and positioned proximate said vibrato bar and a lever coupled to said push bar to cause same to move said push bar against said vibrato bar to move same.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,653,241 12/1927 Vana 84319 2,152,783 4/1939 Beauchamp 84-313 2,727,421 12/1955 McBride 84--312 X 2,802,386 8/1957 Crosby 84313 X 3,185,011 5/1965 Anderson 84-267 X 3,407,698 10/1968 Drake 84313 UX 3,424,049 1/1969 Daniel 84313 3,427,916 2/1969 Fender 84--267 3,440,917 4/1969 Lemon 84267 3,457,821, 7/1969 McCarty et a1. 84-313 3,457,822 7/1969 Mull 84-319 RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner J. F. GONZALES, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. XrR. 84298 

